After a long, warm summer, the cold weather is definitely here; but there are plenty of winter warmers around to brighten up the dark days .

As you walk down Corn Street in Oxford, cradling a gingerbread latte in its seasonal red cup, you cannot fail to be struck by the abundance of brightly coloured stripes on scarves, Ted Baker party shirts and warm, woolly Pierre Cardin knitwear. A contrasting trend for sophisticates is for a minimalist approach to knitwear in plain cashmere blends by Blazer, but an alternative knitwear range of solid, bold colours by Dehavilland will enable party animals to stand out from the crowd at the festive celebrations which are fast approaching.

Once there, no need to fear the inevitable spills with the new Dehavilland Nano-tech shirts which are stain-repellent and available in plains and stripes in a range of colours to match any outfit ­ perhaps a pair of flat-fronted fine-striped grey flannels or trendy boot-cut jeans.

Before heading home, don¹t forget to add an extra layer of warmth ­ choose from a fine collection of overcoats in wool and cashmere such as the pea coat from Bäumler, a navy or black three-quarter length or a short Crombie style coat, both from Pierre Cardin. For those who favour a more casual approach a waxed cotton Ben Sherman jacket might be just the ticket. Happy shopping ­ enjoy the season!